Woodpecker

A woodpecker — kitsutsuki — clings to the bark of a tree in the characteristic pose of a bird pausing between its rhythmic excavations. Kawano renders the bird with the graphic simplicity and bold outline of his sosaku-hanga approach, the distinctive profile of the woodpecker's long beak and strong neck translated into a composition that balances accurate natural observation with decorative appeal. The woodpecker's drumming against wood creates an irresistible connection to the artist's own medium — wood carved by a sharp tool in repetitive, purposeful action.